Tile casting apparatus



Jan. 26, 1932.

A. H. SEXTON TILE CASTING APPARATUS Filed April 4, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet l 4 .m m m .3 g1" f 4 J], fl :5. 7 a a Z J M j z z r 4 Sn ,v W f M W A Ilorney TILE CASTING APPARATUS Filed April 4, 1930 4 sheets-s eet 2 v Invenlor 1.227 JexZ'an M Allor ney Jan. 26, 1932. A. SEXTON 1,842,803

TILE CASTING APPARATUS Filed April '4, 1930 {Sheets-Sheet s j gflz' 74 if :51 A .7? ,ll 73' \4 I o i! 7/ 7/ U w I, Z/ r /J\ 43 K) ,4, Q? g W [7 Invenlor Altorney Jan. 26, 1932. A. H. SEXTON 1,342,303

- ILE CASTING APPARATUS Filed April 4, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 4M E /7 zj Z 371/ E /4 ,y

w. W z/ Invenldr J..ZZTJPA:Z022 r A Home y Patented Jan. 26, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT orrics AUGUST H. SEXTON, OF NASHVILLETENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR TO KOLOR-KRAFT TILE 6:. MACHINE COMPANY, OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, A CORPORATION TILE CASTING APPARATUS This invention relates to an improved machine or apparatus which is expressly designed for molding or casting tile, especially tile which is constructed from concrete, and which is developed in one or more colors.

The principal purpose of this machine is to develop concrete tiles. characterized by a smooth face with or without variegated color effects, and having a roughened and porous bonding surface.

Otherwise stated, I have evolved and produced a molding machine which is susceptible of being used in a practical manner for casting a concrete tile having uniform multicolor texture, including an unusually smooth, visible surface for the exterior, and a somewhat rough and porous inner surface for effective bonding purposes.

The improved structure is individualized by the presence of an unusual. arrangement of details structurally co-ordinated in a manner to facilitate assembling, manufacture, and removal of the concrete tiles.

Briefly stated, the machine includes a legequipped table, a movably mounted and removable casting form associated with the top, together with novel mechanically actuated ejecting means forthe tiles, and motoractuated vibrating means for subjecting the fluid concrete mixture to a shaking action for distributing color and developing a unique tile.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is top plan view of a casting machine constructed in accordance with'the present invention. V v

Figure 2 is a central vertical section taken approximately on the plane of the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 1 is a horizontal section on the line l l of Figure 2. j

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 with the form removed to expose the plate supporting and ejecting blocks.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the line 66 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the frame constituting the molding form. I

Application filed April 4,

Figure 8 is a perspective view of one of the finished tiles.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of one of the removable facing plates.

Figure 10 is a detailview showing the lever structure.

The relatively stationary part or support of the structure is in the nature of a table including a plurality of supporting legs 11 v The concrete form is in the nature of a metal I frame, generally designated by the numeral 16. in Figure 7. This includes intersecting partition members 17 and 18 defining a cellular casting frame in which the liquid concrete is poured and worked. The frame 16 H carries a quartet of depending actuating pins 19. These pins pass downwardly through the holes 1 1 in the top plate and then through similar holes in an underlying, vertically liftable plate 20 which is slidably mounted as h shown in Figure 2. 7

The pins each include a stop nut 21 and a removable clamping nut 22. This serves to fasten the frame 16 through the medium of the pins to the vertically adjustable lifting plate 20. These connecting pins constitute the means for raising and lowering the frame 16 with respect to the top plate 13.

At this time I call attention to the blocks 23. There are four or more of these, one

arranged in each cell of the frame and re movably placed on the top of each block is a smooth facing plate 24. The plate 24 is removably arranged in place. The blocks constitute supports for the plate as well as the v means for ejecting the complete tiles for subsequent ageing and conditionin It may be added here that the plates 24 are of an area to fit nicely in the cells of the molding frame 16. The numeral 25 in Figure 2 designates a depending standard or leg having an outstanding flange 26 which terminates intermediate the ends of the leg. This flange 26 functions as a keeper and a latch bar 27 is cooperable therewith. This latch bar 27 extends horizontally through the frame of the table and is pivoted to one of the frame members 15 as indicated at the point 28. The opposite end extends beyond the table where it is formed with an extension 29 having an aperture to accommodate the reduced lower end portion 30 of an operating lever 31. The lever is disposed vertically and pivotally mounted on the frame structure as at 32 where it may be conveniently grasped to shift the latch into and out of engagement with the keeper flange 26. In Figure 2 the latch is shown engaged with the keeper at which time the plate 20 and the frame 16 are disposed in elevated position.

I might also call attention to the coil spring 33 shown in Figure 4. This is anchored on the frame at one end and fastened on its opposite end to the latch 27 so as to hold the latch in retaining position. The lever 31 serves to move the latch in a direction away from the spring to disengage it from the keeper flange 26 as is obvious.

I next call attention to the numeral 34 as seen in Figure 2 and which designates a horizontal bar member pivoted as at 35 to a bracket 36 on the frame. The opposite end of this bar member extends beyond the left hand end of the frame structure where it terminates in a foot pedal as at 37. There is a lifting link 38 pivoted to the center of this rod member and also pivoted to the lifting standard 25. This pedal is for pulling the standard down and in turn moving the plate 20 and its accompanying frame 16 downwardly in the same manner.

The numeral 39 designates a similar rod member having a foot pedal 40 arranged for convenient operation. This rod member is pivotally mounted on a supporting bracket 41 on the frame. In addition, there is a connecting link 42 which serves to connect it with the lower end of the standard 25. This particular pedal is intended for raising the standard 25 and the accompanying detail.

An important factor of the invention is the means employed for vibrating the machine in order to shake the ingredients of the concrete mixture in an agitating manner for inter-mixing and uniformly distributing these ingredients and particularly the coloring agents. V

In accomplishing this result I have found it expedient and practical to provide a rotary shaft which as shown in Figure 4 is designated by the numeral 43. It is journalled for rotation in brackets 44 on the frame. structure. It carries a rotating pulley 45 located for convenient operation with the belt 46. The opposite end of the belt istrained over a pulley 47 on the shaft of the electric'motor 48 supported on the opposite side of the frame.

The numeral 49 designates an integral eccentric functioning as a weight to produce the desired vibration as the shaft 43 is rapidly rotated under the influence of the beltdriven electric motor.

In operation, the polish steel facing plates 24 are placed in position on the tops of the blocks 23 and confined in the cells of the molding frame 16 as shown in the assembled view in Figure 2. On these plates I pour a mixture of sand cement and coloring. This mixture is in a semi-liquid form. Mixtures of desired colors are poured at random or symmetrically, according to the desired results, but each color mixture is applied separately.

When the colors are all poured in sulficient quantities to cover the plates, the motor 48 is set into operation. Through the medium of the belt-driven pulley and shaft arrangement, the shaft 43 is turned rapidly and under the influence of the weight 49 the desired vibration of the table structure is provided. This vibratory action agitates the mixture in the cells of the molding frame to blendthe colors on the plates and the colors are so harmonized that there is no definable line of their meeting.

When this is accomplished, the motor is stopped. Then the cells of the frame are filled with a substantially dry mixture of stand and cement,'the dryness serving to absorb moisture from the liquid on the facing plates. After tamping thoroughly and cutting off the excess material flush with the top of the form, the tiles are ready to be removed.

To remove the tile, it is first necessary to disengage the latch 27 from beneath the keeper flange 26 as shown in Figure 2. This is accomplished by actuating the aforesaid lever 31. It is simply necessary to pull the lever toward the left and this swings the latch 27 out against the tension of the return spring 33. Then it is necessary to place the foot on the pedal 37 and to force the bar 34 downward and through the medium of the link 38 the standard 25 is pulled down.

The connecting pins between the plate 20 and the molding frame 16 serve to pull the frame down and to permit the blocks 23 to function as ejectors, leaving the tiles and plates readily accessible to remove for cur- Advantages of this machine are such as to insure the production of smooth surfaced tiles of variegated colors, the colors harmonizing completely with each other. This desirable result is obtained, as is obvious, through the utilization of the motor driven eccentric which settles the liquid on the plates in an even manner, and the high vibration drives ott' bubbles of air to the top, thereby producing a surface on the tile as smooth as the plates on which the tile is cast.

Heretofore, he problem of casting concrete tile has been in removing air bubbles on the face of the tile so as t0 produce a smooth surface and in blending the colors harmoniously. This machine, by application of vibration to a wet mixture of cement, sand and coloring for the facing of the cast with the back of very dry cement and sand gives smooth surface concrete desired with the coloring effects blended as well as solid colors according to the ends sought.

The dry mixture on the back of the cement together with the sand gives the product a porous backing or efficient bonding to the mortar in which the tile is set.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings. Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes in shape, size, and rearrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice if desired.

1 claim:

1. In a structure of the class described, a table comprising supporting legs and frame bars holding said legs in assembled position, a rim constituting the marginal portion of the top of the table, a table top confined within said rim, said table top being being provided with a plurality of holes arranged at predetermined spaced points, blocks removably seated on said table top, a cellular casting form, said blocks being arranged in the cells thereof, the frame of said form including depending connecting pins extending downwardly through the holes in the table top, a vertically shiftable raising and lowering plate mounted in said table, means detachably connecting said pins with said plates, and mechanical means for raising and lowering said plate.

2. In a structure of the class described, a table comprising supporting legs and frame bars holdin said legs in assembled position, a rim constituting the marginal portion of the top of the table, a table top confined within said rim, said table top being provided with a plurality of holes arranged at predetermined spaced points, blocks removably seated on said table top, a cellular casting form, said blocks being arranged in the cells thereof, the frame of said form including depending connecting pins extending downwardly through the holes in the table top, a vertically shiftable raising and lowering plate mounted in said table, means detachably connecting said pins with said plate, and mechanical means for raising and lowering said plate, said means including a depending standard,

separate foot pedals connected with the standard and frame structure for raising and lowering the standard, said standard including a keeper flange, and a lever actuated latch pivotally mounted on the frame structure and engageable with said flange.

3. In a structure of the class described, a table including a top provided with a plurality of holes arranged at predetermined spaced points, a cellular casting form, bodily removable blocks seated on the table top and confined in the cells of said form, the frame of said form including depending coupling pins extending downwardly through the holes in said table top, a vertically shiftable raising and lowering member supported on the table, said pins being connected with said member, and mechanical means for raising and lowering the member to simultaneously raise and lower said form.

In testimony whereof I afliX my si nature.

aueusr H. s'nxiron. 

